Twelve Days Cheese Board (Printable)

Twelve-section cheese board with unique cheeses and paired accompaniments, ideal for parties and festive gatherings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 1.75 oz Brie
02 - 1.75 oz Aged Cheddar
03 - 1.75 oz Manchego
04 - 1.75 oz Roquefort or Blue Cheese
05 - 1.75 oz Goat Cheese
06 - 1.75 oz Gruyère
07 - 1.75 oz Camembert
08 - 1.75 oz Gouda
09 - 1.75 oz Comté
10 - 1.75 oz Pecorino
11 - 1.75 oz Havarti
12 - 1.75 oz Smoked Cheese (e.g., Smoked Provolone)

→ Pairings & Accompaniments

13 - 12 slices artisanal bread or assorted crackers
14 - 2 tbsp honey
15 - 2 tbsp fig jam
16 - 2 tbsp whole grain mustard
17 - 24 seedless grapes
18 - 12 dried apricots
19 - 12 walnut halves
20 - 12 toasted almonds
21 - 12 thin apple slices
22 - 12 slices fresh pear
23 - 12 pieces dark chocolate
24 - 12 cornichons
25 - Fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary) for garnish

# Method:

01 - Place a large serving board or platter on a stable surface and visually divide it into 12 equal sections using small bowls, ramekins, or garnish lines.
02 - Distribute one type of cheese into each section, cutting pieces into bite-sized portions where appropriate for easy serving.
03 - In each section, pair the cheese with specified accompaniments, for example, Brie with honey and apple slice; Aged Cheddar with fig jam and walnut; continuing accordingly for all twelve sections.
04 - Surround the board with artisanal bread slices or assorted crackers, ensuring sufficient quantity for each cheese section.
05 - Decorate the entire board with sprigs of fresh thyme and rosemary to enhance visual appeal and aroma.
06 - Present the cheese board at room temperature to optimize flavor and texture of all components.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It feels fancy and impressive, but it's honestly just cheese and fruit arranged thoughtfully—no cooking required, which means you actually have time to enjoy your guests.
  • Everyone finds something they love in those twelve sections, so there's no awkward moment of someone standing around hungry.
  • It tells a story of flavors from around the world, and people genuinely get excited learning about cheeses they've never tried before.
02 -
  • Cold cheese tastes like nothing—that's why serving at room temperature is non-negotiable. Take it out thirty minutes before serving and watch how the flavors wake up, how the textures become more generous.
  • The order of pairings matters more than you'd think. If you put the blue cheese between two mild ones, no one will be brave enough to try it. If you lead with something approachable, everyone becomes an explorer.
03 -
  • Label each section subtly with small cards—just the cheese name—so people know what they're tasting and can look things up later if something moved them.
  • The secret that changes everything: bring your cheeses out of the refrigerator an hour before serving, then assemble just before unveiling. This matters more than any other technique.
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